Packer



E. GRAY June 23, 1931.

Filed .Sept 17, 1929 'l'lll gwuentoz v. A R G W w W S L L E Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES ELLSWORTH GRAY, OIE HOUSTON, TEXAS PACKER Application filed September 17, 1929. Serial 110. 393,147.

The invention relates to an improved packer such as is used in well drilling equipment.

The present improvement involves a r simple and economical structure which will operate readily and is composed of but few parts. v

The packers of the general type here disclosed are particularly used in well drilling .10 and fishing operations where it is desired to close off the area between two members in the well bore and the invention is here disclosed in combination with a spear such as used for fishing operation. It is to be understood, however, that this combination is 'used for purposes of illustration only and that the packer may be used with various other tools and for such other purposes as occasion may demand.

vention to devise a simple and economical packer which may be connected to any desired type of tool.

Another object of the invention is to devise a packer which will expand due to the pressure of the flushing fluid and not upon movement of the packer mandrel or the operating tool.

Another object of the invention is to de- 3 vise a packer which will expand due to the resistance of the flushing fluid. V A still further object of the invention is to arrange a packer having a pressure chamher so that the fluid pressure maycause the expansion of the packing inember.

A still further object of the invent on is to arrange a packer with a clioke'ring which will restrict the flow of fluid so that a pressure will be exerted in the pressure chamber.

The operation of the packer will be readily understood when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of my improved packer in assembled pos tion.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot the improved packer shown in position in the well bore in combination with a spear.

In devices of the type here illustrated the It is one of the objects of the present inuse of a packer is desired in order that a flow of fluid may be caused to pass downwardly through the pipe or casing which is indicated generally at 2. This pipe may be the pump tubing, a strainer pipe, a piece of .55 well casing, or any type of pipe such as is used in well drillingoperations. The application of my invention is here illustrated in combination with a spear used to recover pieces of pipe from the well. I donot de- 0 sire, however, to be limited to this particular use as other advantages and uses for the packer will be readily apparent when the following description is considered.

Fig. 2 shows the packer indicated generally at 3 connected to a spear 4. This I spear is operated by means of a string of pipe or drill stem 5 and comprises the dogs 6 which are adapted to engage the casing or pipe 2, which is to be recovered. 7

The spear 4 has the usual tapered head 7, which serves to expand the dogs 6 upon upward movement of the head. The dogs 6 are in the nature of slips which join the downward movement of the spear and will remain in raised position, but, when the desired point has been reached, upward movement of the stem 5 draws the head 7 in between the slips 6 and causes them to expand it to engage the casing 2. VVhen-this has been accomplished a pull is exerted upon the stem 5 in an attempt to remove the pipe 2 from the well. However, in many instances the casingcor pipe 2 is securely wedged by means of sand or other material which has caved in about it in the well bore. In order to remove this sand 'it is desirable to force a stream ofwater or fluid down through the stem 5, the spear 4 and the packer 3. This fluid is forced from the lower end of the packer 3 and through the guide head 8 into the pipe or casing below the guide head. If the pipe 2, however, is filled with sand or other material the fluid will pass upwardly around the packer and the spear without accomplishing the desired results. Various packers for this purpose have been devised and operate upon various principles, such as rotation of the stem, upward movement 10:)

of the packer body, etc. The present packer, however, is devised upon a different principle, viz, the pressure of the flushing fluid. iVhen the packer is expanded by this fluid pressure the upward flow around the packer is prevented and the pressure will be exerted in the casing 2 below the tools, this will serve to loosen the sand or other material so that a circulation may be established and the tube 2 removed from the well bore by the spear 1.

The structure and operation of the packer will be best understood by having reference to Fig. 1 wherein 10 indicates a mandrel having a fluid passage 11 therethrough. This mandrel has aliixed thereto in any desired manner a packer head 12. It is desired, however, that this head be firmly anchored to the mandrel by either Welding or shrinking thereon. This packer head 12 is formed with a downwardly extending flange or packer retaining rim 13. This flange is adapted to receive thereduced end 1 1 of the packing member 15. This packing member may be made of rubber or any suitable resilient material which will not be subject to corrosion or deterioration by the fluid with which it comes in contact. It is to be understood that the packing member 15 is slidable with respect to the mandrel 10 and cylindrical so that the mandrel serves as a core for the packing member. Screws 17 have been shown as a means of retaining the packingin position in the packing head 12. The lower end of the packing 15 has a reduced end 18 adapted to fit within aflange 19 of a follower ring 20. This follower ring 20, however, is slidable upon the mandrel 10 so that its upward movement will tend to compress the packing member 15. Below the follower ring 20 is shown a guide member 22 threaded to the lower end of the mandrel. This guide member has a passage 23 so that the fluid may flow downwardly through the entire packing member.

It will be noted that the follower ring 20 has a spacer member 25, which is of less diameter than the ring 20 and is placed on the lower side of the follower ring. This spacer 25 tends to separate the guide member 22 and the follower ring 20 so that a pressure chamber 27 is provided. This pressure chamber extends as an annular area about the ring 20. It is to be understood that the spacer member 25 may be formed as here shown, integral with the ring 20. It may be separate or it may be formed upon the guide member 22 as desired.

The packer head 12 has formed therein an annular groove 29 adapted to receive a spring ring 30. This ring is somewhat similar to the conventional piston ring and is adapted to expand and come in contact with the pipe or tubing in which the packing member is inserted. This ring 30 serves as a choke ring to prevent the passage of fluid by the packer head 12.

The operation of the packer is as follows: It is connected to the spear 4t and the entire device is lowered into the well bore. The stem 5 is moved upwardly to expand the jaws 6 and if it is impossible to raise the pipe 2 fluid pressure is then exerted through the stem 5 and the passage 23 to fill the pipe 2 below the guide member with fluid. If the pipe 2 is clogged with sand, pressure is very soon exerted which causes the fluid to pass upwardly around the guidemember into the space indicated at 32 in Fig. 2. This pressure enters the pressure chamber 27 shown in Fig. l and also flows upwardly around the packer in the casing 2. When this fluid fills the space shown at 33 it is prevented from further upward travel by the piston or choke ring 30. \Vhen this occurs a pressure is exerted in the chamber 27 which causes the follower ring 20 to move upwardly and compress the packing member 5.

In this way the flow of fluid upwardly is completely out off and the greater pressure exerted upon the fluid the greater will be the expansion of the packing member 15. The circulation of fluid is therefore obtained because the entire pressure may be exerted in the lower portion of the pipe or casing 2 and the sand or other material clogging the pipe may be washed away. Then this has been accomplished an upward pull upon the stem 5 will enable the operator to remove the pipe or casing 52. It is to be understood that this packing may be connected directly to the stem 5 if it is desired to wash out the casing 2. Occasion for use of the packer arises when the well has been sanded up or when the strainer becomes clogged or in numerous other instances Where it is desired to exert a fluid pressure in any desired point in the well.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A packer including a mandrel, a packer head anchored thereon, a flexible packer member connected to said head, a follower ring confining the lower end of said member, said ring being exposed to fluid pressure and slidable on said mandrel to compress said packer member in response to fluid pressure.

2. A well packer including a packer head, a support therefor, a packer sleeve carried by said head, a follower ring also slidable on said support and connected to said sleeve, an exposed pressure area formed on said ring whereby fluid pressure will slide said ring to expand said sleeve.

3. In combination with a string of pipe, a packer adapted to be inserted therein, a

fluid passage thru said packer, and means.

to choke a flow of'fluid past said packer, said'" packer being characterized by the fact that it is expansible when fluid pressure is exerted upon the lower end thereof.

4. A packer assembly including a mandrel, a packer head fixed thereto, a follower ring slidable on said mandrel, a flexible packing member between said head and ring, a guide member attached to said mandrel beyond said ring and spaced therefrom, a pressure area between said ring and guide whereby fluid pressure may slide said ring to expand said packer member.

5. A packer assembly including a mandrel, a packer head fixed thereto, a follower ring slidable on said mandrel, a flexible packing member between said head and ring, a guide member attached to said mandrel beyond said ring and spaced therefrom, a pressure area between said ring and guide whereby fluid pressure may slide said ring to expand said packer member, and a choke ring carried by said head and adapted to restrict the flow of fluid past said head before said packing member is expanded.

61 In a spear, a packer adapted for connection therewith, said packer including a head, a packer member, and a slidable ring adapted to expand said member when said ring is subjected to fluid pressure.

7 In a spear, a packer adapted for connection therewith, said packer including a head, a packer member, a follower ring, and a guide member, said ring being slidable by pressure fluid passing upwardly around said guide member.

8. A packer including a mandrel, a ring stationary on said mandrel, a pressure ring slidable on said mandrel, a packing sleeve of compressible material between said rings, and means whereby fluid pressure may be exerted upon said slidable pressure ring to compress said packer longitudinally.

9. A packer including a mandrel, a head fixed thereon, a slidable ring on said mandrel, a packing sleeve between said head and ring, and a ressure chamber adjacent said ring to con ne fluid pressure to compress said packing sleeve longitudinally.

10. A packing including a mandrel, a head fixed thereon, a slidable ring on said mandrel, a packing sleeve between said head and said ring, a guide member below said ring and fixed to said mandrel, and a pressure chamber formed between said ring and said guide to confine fluid pressure to compress said packing sleeve longitudinally.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 13 day of September, A. D.

ELLSWORTH GRAY. 

